A Waltham High School student was shot and killed Thursday night at the Gardencrest Apartments complex on Middlesex Circle.

Tyler Zanco, 17, of Waltham, was found at about 10 p.m. suffering from a gunshot wound in the parking lot at 31 Middlesex Circle, according to the Middlesex District Attorney's Office. He was taken to Newton-Wellesley Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

No arrests have been made but authorities do not believe this was a random attack. Anyone with any information is urged to call Waltham Police at 781-314-3607 or Massachusetts State Police Detectives at 781-897-6600.

An eyewitness to the fatal shooting said he saw Zanco fighting with one man when a third man pulled out a gun and shot him.

The witness, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, was watching television in his Gardencrest apartment at Middlesex Circle when he heard banging from the complex’s shared outside door. He then heard the sounds of screaming and fighting coming from outside.

“I looked in the window and there was Tyler on top of another guy and then there was another guy standing who pulled out the gun and shot,” the witness said. “When he shot, [Zanco] tried jumping off to run and then he shot two or three times more and [Zanco] disappeared into the dark.”

The witness then saw the shooter and the man who was fighting with Zanco run to the parking lot and get into a new gray Dodge Charger. The man who fought drove and the shooter sat in the passenger seat, the witness said.

The witness added that it was dark and he couldn’t really get a good look at the faces of the men, but said he wanted the men to be caught.

Zanco was a member of the high school wrestling team.

Andy Merritt, former editor of the Waltham News Tribune and Zanco’s mentor through the Mazie Mentoring Program, remembered Zanco as “a fierce and loyal friend, a smart and strong kid who had great things ahead of him.”

“When I first met him two years ago, we became instant friends because of his charm, wit and the sensitivity he’d probably deny having, but it was there," Merritt said in an email. "I was only supposed to be his mentor through the Mazie Mentoring Program, but that role quickly evolved hand-in-hand with a deep and treasured friendship.

“He was an excellent athlete, a hard worker, and a devoted member of his family."

Zanco had a number of different ideas for his future, including joining the military.

“Our country would have been served well and honorably by such a brave and hardy soul," Merritt said. "But no matter what Tyler ended up doing after high school, I knew he’d be a success, because nothing would stand in his way.

Page 2 of 3 - “The last two years have been good ones for me because of my friendship with Tyler, and I join many others in saying I feel like we’ve been robbed of a friend, son, brother, teammate, nephew and cousin whom we will never, ever forget.”

Mayor Jeannette McCarthy said she'll be reaching out to parents.

“This is very tragic for the family and the city," McCarthy said. "The School Department took the appropriate steps for the students and district. My thoughts and prayers are with Tyler’s family.”

School counselors are available in specific areas throughout the day, according to Waltham High Prinicpal Greg DeMeo.

"We will continue to provide students with support as needed for the next several days," DeMeo said in a statement. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the student and his family."

In addition, the school postponed Friday’s scheduled MCAS in consultation with the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

The School Department has encouraged all students to seek out an adult if they feel confused, unsafe or need to talk to someone, Superintendent Susan Nicholson said in a statement.

“Staff and students at Waltham High School and in the district mourn the profound loss of a member of our high school,” Nicholson said. “As a school community, we have come together to support one another during this difficult time.”

After school events were scheduled to proceed as planned Friday. Resources for students, families and staff will be posted on the district website.

Waltham High School will be open tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Support personnel will be available to meet with students and families from any of the schools in the district.

“Waltham High School’s students and staff and in fact the entire school district are known for being caring and supportive,” Nicholson said. “Together we will get through this tragedy.”

Police on Friday morning referred comment to the Middlesex DA's Office, which had taken over the investigation. As of 11:30 a.m., authorities did not comment on whether there is a threat to the public.

A few residents at the complex said they didn’t hear shots fired Thursday night.

George Moore, who lives in the building near where cops were focusing their investigation Thursday night, said he came out at 11 p.m. for a cigarette and saw police. He asked the police officer what was going on and the cop told him “Someone’s hurt. And hurt bad.”

Moore didn’t hear gunshots and he said he can hear a car drive by from inside the building. Mostly families live in the neighborhood, he said.

Page 3 of 3 - “I feel safe but my wife doesn’t,” Moore said, when asked about the second shooting in that general area since November.

In November, a 20-year-old man was shot at 117 Middlesex Road, near the scene of Thursday night's shooting. The man lived, but suffered two gunshot wounds. Kayla Spangenberg, of Brighton, has been charged in connection with the shooting.

On March 22, 2009, Maryse Antoine was found murdered at her sister’s apartment at 34 Middlesex Circle.

Waltham Police and Massachusetts State Police assigned to the District Attorney's Office are investigating the cause and circumstances of Thursday's shooting.

After midnight Friday, several cruisers and some unmarked vehicles were still at the scene of the shooting. About 10 officers were in sight looking around the area.